Jammu and Kashmir Joint Coordination Committee of Private Schools (JKJCCPS) has appealed to the Fee Fixation Committee to modify its order barring private schools from charging one time admission fee.
In a statement here today, the committee said: "The government is over ruling JK School Education Act 2002, issued by JK Civil Secretariat Education Department under SRO 123 issued on 18th March 2010. The Act under rule no 9 titled Levy and Collection of Fee provides that the admission shall be charged only once i.e. upon first enrolment of the child / student in the school. The Levy and Collection of Fee under JK School Education Act of 2002 is a balanced order helping both schools and parents."
The committee while hailing the FFC for considering many demands of the private schools said the JK Education Act should be maintained.
The committee president Showkat Chowdhary said the one time admission fee is charged from the students for the benefit of the schools and students as the money goes into the development of the school.
"As the child gets admission in the school, he/she avails all the benefits of the school till they pass the secondary or higher secondary. All the admission money is utilised for the development of school infrastructure which is a must to provide quality education to the students," said Chowdhary.
JKJCCPS said the schools have to keep their labs and teaching aids updated every year to keep up with the pace of the modern education system.
"Education system and teaching facilities are changing very fast which makes it compulsory for a school administration to provide every facility to the students. We can't afford to lag behind in modern day education system," he said.
"Therefore, we appeal Fee Fixation Committee to modify its fresh order and allow schools to charge admission fee as per the Education Act."
It's pertinent to mention here that the Fee Fixation Committee has ordered the private schools not to charge one time admission fees from the students or their parents or guardians.
